By KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Association of Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises Ukrvodokanalekolohiia together with donors and partners are working to ensure Ukraine’s water supply in the event of a long blackout.
"Today, the enterprises of the water cluster are working with our donors to ensure water supply if a long blackout provoked by regular missile attacks occurs. We are organizing activities in such a way that water utilities can provide, if not centralized water supply, then at least deliver water to people in hands, as well as ensure the functions of drainage and wastewater treatment," Andriy Nikitin, Vice President of Ukrvodokanalekolohiia, said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Due to problems with power supply throughout Ukraine, there is a need for generators to support the operation of water supply and drainage systems.
"Each city separately makes specific decisions, since water supply systems are different everywhere, each city has its own needs. Mayors of cities, heads of regional state administrations are aware of the risks and work out these issues. In most cities, they can most likely be solved if the necessary number and power of generators are available," President of Ukrvodokanalekolohiia Dmytro Novytsky, said, noting also the preparation of measures providing for alternative, not centralized, water supply on the ground.
According to him, the most critical problems in the field of water supply today are expressed in the systemic destruction of the country’s power supply system, on which the activities of water utilities depend, by the enemy, as well as the situation in the de-occupied territories, where the infrastructure was destroyed and the property of water utilities was stolen by the occupiers.
Damage to Ukraine’s water supply and drainage system from the full-scale Russian invasion can currently be estimated at tens of billions of dollars, the president of the association said.
"Estimates were provided from the World Bank in September. At that time, the damage was estimated at $5 billion. This amount is needed for obvious work. I am sure that the real figure is at least several times higher, since it is very difficult to make an objective assessment now. I think now it is at least tens of billions of dollars," Novytsky said.
The Ukrvodokanalekolohiia Association unites manufacturing enterprises, institutions, water supply and sewerage organizations, research, design, repair and construction and other enterprises of different forms of ownership. It is a corporate member of the International Water Association (IWA).
